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Creamy Garlic Meatball Pasta

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A quick and easy 20-minute dinner featuring tender meatballs in a creamy garlic sauce served over pasta. Perfect for weeknight comfort food that’s simple yet delicious.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (or half beef, half pork)
  • 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (panko recommended)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 8 ounces pasta (penne or rigatoni recommended)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or minced
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream or half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined. Form into 1-inch meatballs and set aside.
  2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes depending on pasta shape. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.
  3. While pasta cooks, heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs in a single layer and cook 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown but not fully cooked. Remove meatballs and set aside.
  4. In the same skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add garlic and sauté gently until fragrant and golden, about 1-2 minutes. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Stir in grated Parmesan until melted and smooth.
  5. Return meatballs to the skillet, nestling them into the sauce. Simmer gently for 5 minutes, turning occasionally, until meatballs are cooked through and sauce thickens. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if sauce is too thick.
  6. Add drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat evenly with sauce and meatballs. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency. Avoid overcrowding the pan when searing meatballs to ensure a golden crust. Use moderate heat when sautéing garlic to prevent bitterness. For gluten-free, substitute breadcrumbs and pasta accordingly. For dairy-free, use coconut cream and nutritional yeast.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy garlic meatball pasta, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, weeknight meal, comfort food, meatballs, garlic cream sauce

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